Electrically-heated water-faucet.



F. A. ROBINSON.- LEGTBICALLY HEATED WATER FAUGBT.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 29, 1907.

Patented July 13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

FRANK ALEXANDER ROBINSON, OF PITTSFIELI), MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO ROBINSON ELECTRIC FAUOET COMPANY, OF COHOES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRICALLY-HEATED AWATEIIt-FAU'CET.

To all whom 'it may concer-n:

Be it lknown that I, FRANK A. ROBINSON,

ofPittsiield, in the county of Berkshire, in

the State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Electricall -Heated Wateraucets, of which the fol owing, taken in connection wi exact. description.

This invention relates to certain ments in electrically heatedwater'lfaucets as a separate article of manufacture adapted the'water while flowingathroug thefaucet,

to bev attached to any Water-pipe fitting capable of receiving any ordinary water. faucet and com rises essentially atwo-way valve, one of wli by aii electric heater, the' current through which is controlled by an electric 'switch moving simultaneously With the valve so as to close the circuit when the valve is moved in one direction to open the extended pas-- sage for heatin the water in transit te the discharge nozz e, and whenA said 1 valve is moved'in another position to open the direct passage for the colf. water the circuit through the heater will be broken.

My object, therefore, is to provide a faucet with an electric heater and an electric switch ada ted to close the circuit when hot water is desired, and to open the circuit When cold water is desired.

v A further object iste assemble all of the essential parts or elements into one compact unitary structure constituting'a complete.

article of manufacture capable of being substituted for any ordinaryl faucet or valve whereby hot water may be instantly supplied from any water system without the use ofl what is commonly known as hot-water boilers, and expensive hot-wateriping systems.

In other words, I have sought to provide a simple, economic and ellicient substitute for the more expensive hot-water heating systems now in general use, and by which hot water.

may'nbe drawn from any cold water circulating system ,through the same faucet as lthe cold water is drawn without unnecessary waste of fuelother than that re uired to heat this', economical result eing brought about Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed my 29, i907. serial No. 376,413.

ich ways or passages is dilrect for the discharge ofcold water while the other way is more extended and surroundedL Patented July 13, ieee.

by the fact that the electric current is used only for heating the amount of hot water desired, such current being shut off at' other times.- f

vOtherobjects and uses relating to the specific parts of the invention will be brought out in the following description.

i In the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of an electric water heating faucet embodying the various features of my invention,

the case for inclosing the water being shown in section and a portion of the insulationl around the hot-water pipe being.

brokenaway to show a portion of theelectric resistance coil. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of vthe lower portion of the ,apparatus seen in ent positions. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a lower portion ofthe faucet and switch', sliow-.

ing particularlythe supporting frame for the insu atin ring carrying the terminals of the switch." electric heating system. i

In carrying out the objects stated, I provide a valve-casing 1v- With a threaded nip le or lateral extension-Q at one side an a discharge nozzle k3- at the opposite side', said valve casing being formed with an -inlet port -4 extending through the nipple -2- and with .opposite outlet ports in `substantially the same horizontal plane as the inlet port.

VA rotary taper valve -7- is fitted in a vertical taper socket f8-' in the valve casing :-1- andA is provided with ports Q- and 10- in the ysame lane as the ports whichv they are adapted to be brought into registration by the rotation of the valve; that is, the valve casing is provided with a series of three Orts formed with two ports adapted to connect ig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the the vinlet port with one or the other of the ports 5 and 6--.

The port -5- leads directly into the nozzle 3-, while the ort -6- is extended into a continuouscoilp12- of comparatively small tubing of high heat conductivity, as copper, which is easily bendableinto'the coil -12- and its helices are referably concentric with the axis of the va ve -7- and disposed in .a plane immediately above the -valve casing -1-.-, the other end of the coilbeing brought around on the outside and terminates in the .discharge nozzleV -3- with which it communicates so that one end of the coil communicates with the port -6-, while the other end of said coil communicates with the port --leading into the nozzle 3.

The ports 9* and 10e-fare arranged'soj that when the valve is moved to one position, as shown in Fig. .4, the ports 9,- and 10 communicate respectively with the inlet and outlet ports-4- and -5- of the valve casing, thereby establishing direct communication between the inlet port -4 and discharge nozzle I5- for the passage of cold water, while the other port -6- leading to the extended passage or coil l2- isV closed. On the other hand, when the valve is moved to 'another position as shown in Fig. 5, the ports --10-Q and -9- are registered respectively with the inlet and outlet ports -4 and -6-, thereby establishing communication between the inlet port and extended passage or coil 12-, which latter is surrounded by an electric resistance -coil 13- .adapted to beconnected to any available source of electric ener y for supplying current to the heating coi 155-. This heating coil or electricresistance wire is insulated from the pipe coil-12- by an intervening wrapping or filling 14-'- of insulating material, as asbestos .or equivalent substance, which is indestructible by heat, said resistance wire being also] covered byya similar wrapping or layer of insulating material 15- to. retain the heat, and also toprot-ect the,

operator against accidental contact with the wire, and furthermore, to insulate the wire from an inclosing jacket or'hood 17- which is shown in sectionin Fig. l, said jacket also serving to prevent maliciousor accidentalA interference with the heating coils, and may l be finished to give the' faucet a pleasing ex- :tric switch,`the contact-plate .-24

allyopposite contact terminals #-23-vwhich are adapted 'tolbe connected bya rotary switch -memb'er -g-24- of co per or 'other elec'tricconducting material, wl) lch, together with the terminals -23- constitute an elecrot-atling with the valve ---7-, and for this purpose is secured to an insulating block or head valve stem illdirectly above thetermii,

The insulating ring --20- serves to insu-l late the te1niinals,-23- from each other and from' the valve casing, theopposite ends of the resistance wire 13- being electrically lconnected to one of the terminals L23-- while the/other terminalis connected by a wire -,-26-` to. the source of electric energy, as a dynamo --2'7-vshown' diagrammatically in Fig. 7,. said Isource of lelectric energy being also connected by.' a wire -28- to the resistance coll y or wire 13 intermediate between its ends, and preferably near the j center of the coil, ythereby dividing the elec-L tric resistance coil or Winding into two prac- 11:

ticallvseparate heaters, wherebyl am en abled"'to`obtain a moreeven distrlbution of the current throughout'theentire lengthof the Wire". Without carrying lsuch current through an excessive length ofsuch wire.

These electrical. connections are best shownY diagrammatically in F ig. 7 in which I have indicated the coviitact'- terminals '--23-4 as' electrically connected in circuit through the dynamo --27-- andl a switch 28--, .the resistance coil 13- being' shownfas unwo'und or extended, but the wire 26eis here 4shown as connecting the resistance substantially 'midway through the interposed switch --28--F which may be oi' any yconstruction for opening and closing the circuit.

I have shown in- Figs. eand 5the Avalve -7-- as in its twol extremel ,ositions, one position for connecting the-in et port 41- with the outlet'port#-5-.fordirect'passage ofthe cold water therethrough, while Fig 5 shovfs a valve in its position for diverting the water from the inlet l() heater coil, but it is evident that sa-1d' valve position Itocut off communication between thepinlet port and both of the. outlet ports As previouslystated the Contact' piece #2A-[of the electric switch is secured tothe valve stem -21`--l throughthe medium of the insulating block 25 rotates with the valve 7e, and this contact pieceand associated terminals Q3- are arranged relatively to the valve ports -9,-'- an "orts are registered respectively with .the inlet -v--4fand extendedfoutlet --6-,Qor

tubular heater-coil' 12 the contactpiccc.

--24 electrically connects the terminaisthrough the tubular and, therefore,

10- so that. v hen these valve -il through the electric heater coil 13-, thereby heating the water as it passes through the tubular outlet extension 12- to the discharge nozzle 31. On the other hand, when the valve -7 is turned to establish direct communication between the inlet -'4-- and nozzle -3- through the port --5- the lcontact 'ieee #-24* 1s simultaneously thrown out o electrical conn cction with the terminals -23, thereby breaking the electric cir-A cuit through the resistance coil or electric heater e413-, allowing cold water to pass directly through the nozzle -3-. Again, when the valve is turned to an intermediate position so as to cut oil" communication between the inlet port --4'- and both of the outlets ports 5 and *45, the contact member -24 is still 'ont of contact with the terminals -23--, the object being to keep the electric circuit open at all times exce t when hot water is desired, or when the va ve is in the position shown in Fig. 5 with the valve ports 10 and -9- in registration with the inlet and outlet ports -4- and '-6- res ectively. y

The va ve stem --21-- extends upwardly through thecenter of the tubular heater-coll 12 above the top' ofthe casing +17*-A and is provided with Aa suitable handle 18ewhereby. the valve 7- may be manipulated, and inasmuch' as there is always more or less wear and consequent necessity for rea'lr of the valve I have left sufficient openva ve stem with the valve and switch meniber 2li thereon to be readily withdrawn upwardly through the top of thecoil lf2-- by simply removin a screw 30-'- Vand washer --31- by wliichthe valve is held in its taper seat -8.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the valve casing -1- is provided with a direct passage for the coldwater and l an extended passage iuclosed within an electric heater for heating the water'passing v'through' the extended passage which termi-l nates in a direct passage, thereby discharging hot or cold water through the same outlet -3-, and although I have shown the tubular heater coil as concentric with the axis of the valve, it is obvious that the extended passage mamyT be otherwise formed anillocated in other relations to the valve-casing without departing from the 'spirit ofv this invention, therefore I do' not limit myself to the exact relative arrangement or construe# tion of the valve casing or heating means otherthan the broadv idea o'f providing the valve casing with one direct water-way anda separate extended water-way and electric? ally heating the extended-waterway only when such passage is in communication wit the inletv of the valve casing.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric water-heating faucet, a

valve casing having` an inlet and an outlet and an extended passage leading from the valve chamber tov the outlet, electric means for heating said-"1.9 extended passage and a valve for controlling communication be'- tween the inlet and said extended passage.'

2. An electric water heating faucet comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, a se .arate'conduit leading from the valve cham er to thefjroutlet, a valve for controlling communication between said inlet and outlet through said conduit, and electric means for heating the separate conduit.

3. An electric water heating faucet comprising a valve casing having an inlet and outlet, a separate conduit leading from the inlet to the outlet, a valvel controlling the communication between the inlet and outlet throughsaid conduit, electric means to heat the conduit, and an electric switch connected to the valve to close'the electric heating circuit simultaneously Elwith the opening of the valve to said conduit.

4. An electric water heating faucet comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an.

outlet, an elongated' tube` leading from the valve chamber to the outlet, a valve controlling. communication between the inlet and elongated tube,"an electrical heater inclosing 'portion of the tube between the valve chamber and ,outlet and an electrical switch operable with the valve to close the electric circuit through the heater simultaneouslvwith 4the opening of communica* tion between the inlet and tube. l

5. An electric water heating faucet comI prising a twoway valve casing having an in et and a valve for alternately connecting the inlet with one or the other of said ways, a

tubular conduit leading from one of the Ways and an electric heater inclosing a portion of said conduit.

6. An electric water heating faucet coin# prising a valve casing having'an inlet and an outlet, an outside conduit leading from the valv'e. chamberl to the outlet, a valve controlling communication between the inlet and outlet through said conduit, and electrical means outside of the valve casing for heating saidconduit.

7.' An electrical water heating faucet comprising a valvecasinghaving an inlet and a direct outlet, and also provided with an indirect outlet,- a valvecontrolling communica tion betweenthe inlet and said outlets, an electric heater inclosing portions ofthe indirect outlet and an electrical switch in circuit with the electric heater-and movable with the valve for closing. the circuit through the heater when 'communication is established between the inlet and indirect outlet.

8. An electric water heating faucet comprisinga Valve casing having an, inlet and an outlet, and `also provided with an indirect passage leading to. the outlet, a. valve controlling communication between the inlet In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my and oltllts, a3 electric heater irclosinlg e por hand this 14th day of May 1907. 1 tiono t ein irect asse e an ane ectrca l switch in circuit with) the leater and movable FRANK ALEXANDER ROBINSON' 5 with the valve to close thecircuit through Witnesses: i

the heater when the inlet is in communiea- FRANK R. STRONG, tion with the indirect passage. KELTON B. WELLER. 

